Digging into Research: Making & Tinkering in Afterschool · Equitable Learning Through Tinkering...

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Digging into Research: Making & Tinkering in Afterschool

Transcript of Digging into Research: Making & Tinkering in Afterschool · Equitable Learning Through Tinkering...

Page 1: Digging into Research: Making & Tinkering in Afterschool · Equitable Learning Through Tinkering Equity-oriented pedagogy & program design: 1.Builds inclusive environments emphasizing

Digging into Research:

Making & Tinkering in Afterschool

Page 2: Digging into Research: Making & Tinkering in Afterschool · Equitable Learning Through Tinkering Equity-oriented pedagogy & program design: 1.Builds inclusive environments emphasizing

Today’s Speakers

Melissa BallardSTEM Manager, Afterschool Alliance

Molly SheaDirector of the Center for Informal Learning & Schools, Exploratorium

Jean RyooDirector of the California Tinkering

Afterschool Network, Exploratorium

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Overview

1. Background on initiative (5 min)

2. Defining tinkering & making (5 min)

3. Panelist discussion (15 min)

4. Audience Q & A (10 min)

5. Audience Discussion: Using research in practice (10 min)

6. Upcoming research & opportunities (5 min)

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Connected Collections

Include:

• An overview and learning goals for a select topic

• 4-6 short synopses of recent research published in journals

• A set of overarching discussion prompts and links to other relevant resources

relatingresearchtopractice.org/hot_topics

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California Tinkering Afterschool Network:A research-practice partnership

Network serves over 2,000 K-12 non-dominant students in low-income communities through 5 different afterschool programs offering equity-oriented, STEM-rich tinkering.

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What is Tinkering?

1. Making vs. Tinkering: Tinkering is an intentional attempt to highlight the process—developing skills through play and inquiry.

2.STEM-rich tinkering places scientific concepts and practices into the hands of students through activities that blend low- and high-tech materials (e.g., Arduino microcontrollers, fabric, etc.) while inviting participants to create objects with utilitarian, aesthetic and/or self-expressive dimensions.

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Equitable Learning Through Tinkering

Equity-oriented pedagogy & program design:

1. Builds inclusive environments emphasizing shared activity, process, and iteration;

2. Cultivates play, imagination, and epistemological heterogeneity;

3. Widens definitions of learning, intelligence, and science; and

4. Treats learning as a purposeful and social endeavor

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Panel Discussion

Q1 | How do you know if an activity or project qualifies as “Making” or “Tinkering”?

Molly Shea Jean Ryoo

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Panel Discussion

Q2 | What is the connection between equity & tinkering?

RE: Vossoughi et al.

Molly Shea Jean Ryoo

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Panel Discussion

Q3 | How can educators support young people fully leverage the possibilities of making & tinkering

Take intellectual risks | Create original projects

Make connections to other settings

Molly Shea Jean Ryoo

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Panel Discussion

Q4 | How can educators balance the STEM content and other learning goals without diminishing the playfulness of tinkering?

Molly Shea Jean Ryoo

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Panel Discussion, cont.

Molly Shea Jean Ryoo

Concluding Thoughts…

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Audience Q & A

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Audience Discussion:How might you use a Connected Collection in your practice? Personally? With staff?

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Audience Ideas:

Building language for training, reporting, grant writing & reflection

Grant proposals

Articulate value to funders & educational partners

Getting buy-in from principals or administrators

Professional development for staff

Structuring activities & programs

Communicate to importance of thoughtful pedagogy

Dialogue with staff to improve practice

Documenting the research base of out-of-school time learning to support the field as a whole

Gaining support for programs

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CTAN’s Upcoming Research

Goal: Describe what high-quality, equity-oriented, STEM-rich tinkering looks like and how to help staff continuously develop the necessary teaching skills

• Summer 2015: Coding and analyzing field notes & interview data

• Through Winter 2015: developing professional development resources to support high-quality, equity-oriented, STEM-rich tinkering pedagogy

www.exploratorium.edu/ctan